Chapter Seven: The Decision and PDA
When Harry and Hermione met Ron that morning, a couple of hours later, Ron seemed pleased to find them both on speaking terms with each other.
"I knew you'd sort it out eventually mate," Ron whispered to Harry while Hermione visited the Ravenclaw table to get some syrup for her waffles. "You see, you and her don't fight like we do. Can you imagine me in a relationship with her? I mean, yeah she is a great friend, but we would end up killing each other."
Harry laughed. "Well, I am glad that you aren't jealous mate."
He turned and smiled upon seeing Hermione rejoining the table.
"Hey sweetie," Harry grinned at her, and once she was seated beside him he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder.
" I love you," she discreetly whispered into his ear. Harry's arm tightened around her waist upon hearing this. He knew he could get used to hearing her say this to him every day for the rest of his life.
"Hey Harry. What are you grinning about?" Ron asked, waving his hand in front of his best friend's face.
"Huh?" Harry returned from outer space.
"I asked you why you have that goofy grin plastered all over your face Harry. You look like a clown."
"A clown in love," Hermione teased.
" You guys are in love?" Ron gasped. No one noticed, but a few feet away Ginny was sitting and chatting with her fourth year friends. Suddenly she became quiet, eager to hear the answer to the question that she had unintentionally overheard.
"Yes." Harry answered briefly. His attention was clearly still on his girlfriend. Harry suddenly brushed Hermione's hair behind her ear on impulse. "I wanted to see your face my Mione," he leaned in and kissed her nose affectionately.
Ron snorted and when Harry looked at him curiously, he pretended to be choking on his porridge.
"Sorry mate," he gave one last hacking cough. "Choked on my." he looked down at his plate. "Porridge," he finished weakly.
"You choked on your porridge. How the hell would you manage to do that?" Hermione asked him laughing. "I mean. I know you eat at the speed of light, but I didn't think that even you could choke on porridge."
Ron smiled, and looked at them. His ears and neck were turning slightly pink. "Well. Apparently it is possible guys, because that is all I have on my plate." Suddenly he turned to escape the situation at hand, and he saw Ginny sitting silently with her plate full of food.
"Hey. Little sis, are you okay?" Ron asked. Usually she chatted endlessly with her friends while she ate, and now she wasn't even feeding herself.
"I am perfectly fine, Ron." Ginny snapped. Then she turned to her friends. "I forgot to finish my DADA homework last night. I'll catch you guys in class."
On her way out of the Great Hall she stopped where the famous trio were sitting.
"By the way, congratulations Harry and Hermione. The new Gryffindor love birds." She didn't seem too pleased about it at all, and Harry watched her until she disappeared before asking Ron about her peculiar behavior.
"Ron, your sister seemed upset. Has she got something on her mind? Oh and was she eavesdropping on us. No one told her about Mione's and my relationship status." Harry asked, rather confused.
Ron leaned across the table and whispered his answer to Harry so that Ginny's friends wouldn't hear what he said about her. "I think she probably just overheard mate, and became interested. And was it just me or did she sound. sarcastic?"
"Er, yeah, she was," Harry agreed with Ron, who rolled his eyes between the couple and threw up his hands, waiting for Harry to figure it out. "Come on mate, it's not rocket science."
"I know what the problem is Ron. Do you honestly think I am that thick?" he hissed back. "She's jealous. I hadn't any idea she still fancied me. I still remember her cute old Valentine cards, but that was years ago mate."
"Well Harry. I think she fancies The Harry Potter, not, well, you. If you know what I mean."
"The illusion Harry Potter. Yeah, well I guess I can talk to her, and tell her that I am not really who she fancies. Then she can set her eye on a more deserving guy." Harry decided.
"Not to mention, an available guy." Hermione lightly punched Harry in the arm. "And I am sure she will have no trouble attracting one. From what I hear, she is fairly popular among the fourth year boys." Hermione winked at Harry, and both looked at Ron who was practically fuming.
"Relax mate. She's fourteen years old. I think she can handle being in a mature relationship without you breathing down her neck Ron," Harry said in an attempt to pacify his best friend.
"I know. I just don't want to see her hurt." Ron seethed.
"Don't worry, Ginny can take care of herself. She is intelligent," Hermione smiled and patted Ron's hand. "She'll be fine. I assure you."
"Well I guess I will talk to her then," Harry smiled, awaiting a response from Ron.
"I guess that is all right Harry. Just don't freak out if she cries or something, because you know, girls are emotional," Ron said.
Hermione glared at him. "Oh yes, women are emotional, and men are tactless!" she snapped at him.
"Okay guys. Really, don't bicker please!" Harry said covering both their mouths with his hand, as Ron opened his to retort.
"Sorry Harry." Ron said. "Sorry Hermione. I didn't mean to offend you."
Hermione folded her arms across her chest but nodded in response to her friend's apology. Then she stood up. "I'm off to the."
"Library," Ron and Harry finished for her.
"Come on Mione. You can go to the library after classes, can't you? You'll only have about ten minutes," Harry protested.
"Harry why don't you go with her?" he winked at him.
"Yeah." Harry stood up and wrapped his arms around her middle, pulling her back against him. "Please," he wheedled, and kissed her neck.
"Harry," Hermione blushed furiously. "I don't want to get in trouble for showing public affection."
"It's called PDA, oh brilliant one," Ron teased her.
Hermione shot him a murderous glance.
"It's okay Mione. I am sure you've seen people doing much worse in
public," Harry said in soothing tones.
"Yeah. Loads of people make out in the great hall. A little innocent kissing can't hurt ya Mione." Ron grinned at her.
"Fine," she hated it when she was wrong, so she was rather snappy when she said this to Ron. "Okay Harry, I suppose you can come with me to the library."
"Great!" Harry and Hermione waved to Ron as they left the Great Hall. Outside in the main corridor Harry thought he'd have some fun teasing his girlfriend.
"Hey," he whispered in her ear. "How about we get my invisibility cloak and find some broom closet somewhere Mione."
"Oh, how romantic Harry. A broom closet. I am sure you can do better than that." Hermione teased him back. She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I find it much more roomy in this corridor." Hermione stood on her tiptoes and began to kiss her boyfriend. She licked and nibbled on his lips, teasing him. Finally, after being satisfied by a couple of moans, she slipped her tongue into his mouth, and gave him full access to hers. After they finished kissing, Harry looked out of the corner of his eye at the no longer desolate hall, and then, smiling against Hermione's mouth, he pressed her up against the wall. Then he said with his mouth still pressed against hers. "That was very nice my Mione. I am sure that the PDA didn't kill you did it?"
"What?" Hermione tore her mouth off of Harry's to find a group of Gryffindors staring at the two of them, quite amused.
"Harry and Hermione Potter!" Lavendar shouted gleefully. "Now Hermie, don't get mad at me, it was your own fault that you guys have been discovered."
Hermione glared at her, and this caused the watching students to laugh. All except one. Hermione glanced at the back of the group and found a miserable looking girl with fiery red hair.
"Nice going Harry," she whispered into his ear. "I bet Ginny loved our public display of affection."
Harry sighed upon noticing the unhappy younger sister of his best friend heading down the main corridor. "I'll go talk to her. If you don't mind about the library."
"Oh I think I can handle it alone. Go try to calm down Ginny. She is our friend, and I do hate it when any of my friends are unhappy Harry," Hermione said, patting him on the back. "Catch up with you in class then Mione," Harry turned to leave but his girlfriend interrupted him.
"Wait!" Harry turned to face her. "You'll be late then, won't you?" Hermione said, alarmed.
"Don't worry darling," Harry brushed his mouth against her ear as he whispered to her. "Remember, we are prefects. If we are a little late, we can blame it on prefect duties."
"And however you got to be one I still wonder," Hermione exclaimed, appalled that he would take such advantage of his position.
"Back later," Harry winked at her, and followed Ginny outside onto the grounds.
When Harry and Hermione met Ron that morning, a couple of hours later, Ron seemed pleased to find them both on speaking terms with each other.
"I knew you'd sort it out eventually mate," Ron whispered to Harry while Hermione visited the Ravenclaw table to get some syrup for her waffles. "You see, you and her don't fight like we do. Can you imagine me in a relationship with her? I mean, yeah she is a great friend, but we would end up killing each other."
Harry laughed. "Well, I am glad that you aren't jealous mate."
He turned and smiled upon seeing Hermione rejoining the table.
"Hey sweetie," Harry grinned at her, and once she was seated beside him he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Hermione leaned her head on his shoulder.
" I love you," she discreetly whispered into his ear. Harry's arm tightened around her waist upon hearing this. He knew he could get used to hearing her say this to him every day for the rest of his life.
"Hey Harry. What are you grinning about?" Ron asked, waving his hand in front of his best friend's face.
"Huh?" Harry returned from outer space.
"I asked you why you have that goofy grin plastered all over your face Harry. You look like a clown."
"A clown in love," Hermione teased.
" You guys are in love?" Ron gasped. No one noticed, but a few feet away Ginny was sitting and chatting with her fourth year friends. Suddenly she became quiet, eager to hear the answer to the question that she had unintentionally overheard.
"Yes." Harry answered briefly. His attention was clearly still on his girlfriend. Harry suddenly brushed Hermione's hair behind her ear on impulse. "I wanted to see your face my Mione," he leaned in and kissed her nose affectionately.
Ron snorted and when Harry looked at him curiously, he pretended to be choking on his porridge.
"Sorry mate," he gave one last hacking cough. "Choked on my." he looked down at his plate. "Porridge," he finished weakly.
"You choked on your porridge. How the hell would you manage to do that?" Hermione asked him laughing. "I mean. I know you eat at the speed of light, but I didn't think that even you could choke on porridge."
Ron smiled, and looked at them. His ears and neck were turning slightly pink. "Well. Apparently it is possible guys, because that is all I have on my plate." Suddenly he turned to escape the situation at hand, and he saw Ginny sitting silently with her plate full of food.
"Hey. Little sis, are you okay?" Ron asked. Usually she chatted endlessly with her friends while she ate, and now she wasn't even feeding herself.
"I am perfectly fine, Ron." Ginny snapped. Then she turned to her friends. "I forgot to finish my DADA homework last night. I'll catch you guys in class."
On her way out of the Great Hall she stopped where the famous trio were sitting.
"By the way, congratulations Harry and Hermione. The new Gryffindor love birds." She didn't seem too pleased about it at all, and Harry watched her until she disappeared before asking Ron about her peculiar behavior.
"Ron, your sister seemed upset. Has she got something on her mind? Oh and was she eavesdropping on us. No one told her about Mione's and my relationship status." Harry asked, rather confused.
Ron leaned across the table and whispered his answer to Harry so that Ginny's friends wouldn't hear what he said about her. "I think she probably just overheard mate, and became interested. And was it just me or did she sound. sarcastic?"
"Er, yeah, she was," Harry agreed with Ron, who rolled his eyes between the couple and threw up his hands, waiting for Harry to figure it out. "Come on mate, it's not rocket science."
"I know what the problem is Ron. Do you honestly think I am that thick?" he hissed back. "She's jealous. I hadn't any idea she still fancied me. I still remember her cute old Valentine cards, but that was years ago mate."
"Well Harry. I think she fancies The Harry Potter, not, well, you. If you know what I mean."
"The illusion Harry Potter. Yeah, well I guess I can talk to her, and tell her that I am not really who she fancies. Then she can set her eye on a more deserving guy." Harry decided.
"Not to mention, an available guy." Hermione lightly punched Harry in the arm. "And I am sure she will have no trouble attracting one. From what I hear, she is fairly popular among the fourth year boys." Hermione winked at Harry, and both looked at Ron who was practically fuming.
"Relax mate. She's fourteen years old. I think she can handle being in a mature relationship without you breathing down her neck Ron," Harry said in an attempt to pacify his best friend.
"I know. I just don't want to see her hurt." Ron seethed.
"Don't worry, Ginny can take care of herself. She is intelligent," Hermione smiled and patted Ron's hand. "She'll be fine. I assure you."
"Well I guess I will talk to her then," Harry smiled, awaiting a response from Ron.
"I guess that is all right Harry. Just don't freak out if she cries or something, because you know, girls are emotional," Ron said.
Hermione glared at him. "Oh yes, women are emotional, and men are tactless!" she snapped at him.
"Okay guys. Really, don't bicker please!" Harry said covering both their mouths with his hand, as Ron opened his to retort.
"Sorry Harry." Ron said. "Sorry Hermione. I didn't mean to offend you."
Hermione folded her arms across her chest but nodded in response to her friend's apology. Then she stood up. "I'm off to the."
"Library," Ron and Harry finished for her.
"Come on Mione. You can go to the library after classes, can't you? You'll only have about ten minutes," Harry protested.
"Harry why don't you go with her?" he winked at him.
"Yeah." Harry stood up and wrapped his arms around her middle, pulling her back against him. "Please," he wheedled, and kissed her neck.
"Harry," Hermione blushed furiously. "I don't want to get in trouble for showing public affection."
"It's called PDA, oh brilliant one," Ron teased her.
Hermione shot him a murderous glance.
"It's okay Mione. I am sure you've seen people doing much worse in
public," Harry said in soothing tones.
"Yeah. Loads of people make out in the great hall. A little innocent kissing can't hurt ya Mione." Ron grinned at her.
"Fine," she hated it when she was wrong, so she was rather snappy when she said this to Ron. "Okay Harry, I suppose you can come with me to the library."
"Great!" Harry and Hermione waved to Ron as they left the Great Hall. Outside in the main corridor Harry thought he'd have some fun teasing his girlfriend.
"Hey," he whispered in her ear. "How about we get my invisibility cloak and find some broom closet somewhere Mione."
"Oh, how romantic Harry. A broom closet. I am sure you can do better than that." Hermione teased him back. She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I find it much more roomy in this corridor." Hermione stood on her tiptoes and began to kiss her boyfriend. She licked and nibbled on his lips, teasing him. Finally, after being satisfied by a couple of moans, she slipped her tongue into his mouth, and gave him full access to hers. After they finished kissing, Harry looked out of the corner of his eye at the no longer desolate hall, and then, smiling against Hermione's mouth, he pressed her up against the wall. Then he said with his mouth still pressed against hers. "That was very nice my Mione. I am sure that the PDA didn't kill you did it?"
"What?" Hermione tore her mouth off of Harry's to find a group of Gryffindors staring at the two of them, quite amused.
"Harry and Hermione Potter!" Lavendar shouted gleefully. "Now Hermie, don't get mad at me, it was your own fault that you guys have been discovered."
Hermione glared at her, and this caused the watching students to laugh. All except one. Hermione glanced at the back of the group and found a miserable looking girl with fiery red hair.
"Nice going Harry," she whispered into his ear. "I bet Ginny loved our public display of affection."
Harry sighed upon noticing the unhappy younger sister of his best friend heading down the main corridor. "I'll go talk to her. If you don't mind about the library."
"Oh I think I can handle it alone. Go try to calm down Ginny. She is our friend, and I do hate it when any of my friends are unhappy Harry," Hermione said, patting him on the back. "Catch up with you in class then Mione," Harry turned to leave but his girlfriend interrupted him.
"Wait!" Harry turned to face her. "You'll be late then, won't you?" Hermione said, alarmed.
"Don't worry darling," Harry brushed his mouth against her ear as he whispered to her. "Remember, we are prefects. If we are a little late, we can blame it on prefect duties."
"And however you got to be one I still wonder," Hermione exclaimed, appalled that he would take such advantage of his position.
"Back later," Harry winked at her, and followed Ginny outside onto the grounds.